At least two people face charges after a stolen check investigation spanning multiple states started with a traffic stop in Gardnerville in 2024.
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office say the unidentified duo were initially arrested in April 2024 after a deputy searched their car and found mail allegedly stolen from mailboxes across the region, including personal checks addressed to the IRS totaling more than $507,450.
Authorities say the man and woman were arrested and booked into the Douglas County Jail while ICE placed them on holds due to their undocumented status.
The DCSO Investigations Division then coordinated with the Reno Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to continue the case, as the suspects appeared to be part of a larger criminal enterprise.
The Reno Homeland Security office later learned they were part of a Transnational Criminal Organization. Reno HSI, with the assistance of Los Angeles HSI and other allied California law enforcement agencies, secured federal indictments on six people in the Southern California area.
Then last week, Reno and LA HSI served warrants in LA and arrested three people.
In addition to the Reno HSI and Los Angeles HSI, the following law enforcement agencies were involved in the complex investigation: Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Sacramento HSI, Concord Police Department, Benicia Police Department, and Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office.
(Douglas County Sheriff's Office contributed to this report.)
